A nuclear heart scan is a type of heart disease test. It is also known as nuclear stress testing and radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging. It is performed to assess the condition and health of the heart. During the test, a doctor will inject a radioactive material or dye called a tracer through the vein into the bloodstream. The tracer travels along the veins towards the heart and special cameras outside the body can trace its journey. Two sets of images will be taken. First, the patient will undergo an exercise stress test or chemical stress test so that their blood flow can be monitored while ‘stressed’. The second set of images will be taken several hours or a few days later when the patient is at rest. The two sets of images will be compared for signs of any blockages and areas of damaged heart muscle. [ http://www.womens-health-advice.com/heart-disease/testing.html ]

All in all the scan only took 4 hours rather than the 6 mentioned and wasn’t as scary as we had thought.

Due to the radioactivity I was warned to take a taxi home and to stay away from people for 48 hours until the Technetium Tc 99m sestamibi reached safer levels.. Andrew and I took the long blue and white taxi home raight to our doorstep and went out shopping today after I came home from respite.